Description
One of three main railway stations in Birmingham city centre alongside New Street and Snow Hill, it manages to blend historical and modern elements. Originally opened in 1909 by the Great Western Railway (GWR) as featured on our reproduction station clock. It was a terminus for local trains, the station was later expanded with through platforms in 1987. In 2002, the original station was restored and merged with the newer section, reviving its heritage while enhancing capacity. Since 2010, two of the original terminus platforms have been reopened, making the station a key hub for Chiltern Railways services from London Marylebone and local trains on the Snow Hill Lines. It is now Birmingham’s second busiest railway station.
HistoryEarly Years (1909–1987)
At the start of the 20th century, Birmingham’s suburban rail traffic was growing rapidly. Snow Hill station, the GWR’s primary hub, was struggling with congestion due to the limited capacity of Snow Hill tunnel. To alleviate this, Moor Street was built as a terminus for local services from Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Opened in 1909 with temporary buildings, its permanent structures were completed in 1914. The station originally had an island platform with two tracks, with a third added in 1930. To maximize space in the confined site, two electrically operated traversers were installed at the buffer end, allowing locomotives to move sideways instead of reversing. These were removed in 1967 when diesel multiple units replaced steam trains.
Following British Rail nationalization in 1948, Moor Street came under the Western Region, later transferring to the London Midland Region in 1963. In 1968, Snow Hill station closed, making Moor Street an isolated terminus. Threatened with closure in 1969, the station was saved by legal challenges from local authorities. The station saw reduced services in the late 1960s but was revitalized in the 1970s under the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE), which introduced a regular half-hourly service.
Goods Station
Moor Street was also home to a significant goods station, opened in 1914 to handle freight traffic that would otherwise pass through Snow Hill tunnel. Built on multiple levels due to the steep terrain, it featured wagon lifts and electric traversers for efficient loading. Fresh produce arriving in the mornings was quickly transported to the nearby Bull Ring market. The goods station closed in 1972, and the site is now partially occupied by the Selfridges Building and a car park.
Relocation and Modernisation (1987–2002)
With the reopening of Snow Hill station and tunnel in the 1980s, a new through-platform Moor Street station was built at the tunnel’s southern entrance. The original terminus closed in 1987, with its last train being a steam special hauled by Clun Castle. The new station opened on 5 October 1987.
The 1990s saw an expansion in services, including the introduction of Network SouthEast’s London Marylebone route via Banbury and Leamington Spa, making Moor Street a main line station for the first time. Through services to Worcester via Stourbridge and Kidderminster followed in 1995.
Restoration and Reopening (2002–Present)
The original station was left unused and fell into disrepair. By the 1990s, it was overgrown and structurally deteriorating. Efforts to save the station, led by the Moor Street Station Historical Society, resulted in it being listed as a Grade II historic site in 1998. Restoration work in the early 2000s returned the station to its 1930s appearance, featuring period-style lamps, clocks, signage, and seating.
In 2010, two of the three terminus platforms (now numbered 3 and 4) were reconnected to the network, allowing Chiltern Railways to terminate some London Marylebone services at Moor Street instead of Snow Hill. This upgrade coincided with a broader redevelopment of Chiltern’s Birmingham–London route, enabling faster services. A locomotive-hauled express service between Moor Street and Marylebone was introduced in 2011, further enhancing its role as a key transport hub.
